35 Best universities for Illustration and Concept Art in England

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in England ranked based on their research performance in Illustration and Concept Art. A graph of 34.2K citations received by 3.71K academic papers made by 35 universities in England was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

Founded: 1932

2. University College London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Oxford

For Illustration and Concept Art

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

4. University of Cambridge

For Illustration and Concept Art

#4 in the United Kingdom

#6 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

5. University of Manchester

For Illustration and Concept Art

#6 in the United Kingdom

#21 in Europe

Founded: 1824

6. University of Sussex

For Illustration and Concept Art

#7 in the United Kingdom

#28 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

7. Durham University

For Illustration and Concept Art

#8 in the United Kingdom

#30 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

8. University of Bradford

For Illustration and Concept Art

#9 in the United Kingdom

#36 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

9. University of Nottingham

For Illustration and Concept Art

#10 in the United Kingdom

#37 in Europe

Founded: 1948

10. Birkbeck, University of London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#11 in the United Kingdom

#38 in Europe

Founded: 1823

11. University of Bristol

For Illustration and Concept Art

#12 in the United Kingdom

#39 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

12. University of Warwick

For Illustration and Concept Art

#13 in the United Kingdom

#41 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

13. University of York

For Illustration and Concept Art

#15 in the United Kingdom

#44 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

14. University of Birmingham

For Illustration and Concept Art

#16 in the United Kingdom

#45 in Europe

Founded: 1900

15. University of Reading

For Illustration and Concept Art

#17 in the United Kingdom

#47 in Europe

Founded: 1892

16. Imperial College London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#18 in the United Kingdom

#56 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

17. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Illustration and Concept Art

#20 in the United Kingdom

#62 in Europe

Founded: 1992

18. University of Southampton

For Illustration and Concept Art

#21 in the United Kingdom

#64 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

19. University of the Arts London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#23 in the United Kingdom

#71 in Europe

Founded: 1986

20. University of Leeds

For Illustration and Concept Art

#24 in the United Kingdom

#72 in Europe

Founded: 1904

21. King's College London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#25 in the United Kingdom

#73 in Europe

Founded: 1829

22. Goldsmiths, University of London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#26 in the United Kingdom

#78 in Europe

Founded: 1904

23. Loughborough University

For Illustration and Concept Art

#27 in the United Kingdom

#86 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

24. University of Liverpool

For Illustration and Concept Art

#28 in the United Kingdom

#90 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

25. University of Exeter

For Illustration and Concept Art

#29 in the United Kingdom

#91 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

26. University of Kent

For Illustration and Concept Art

#30 in the United Kingdom

#96 in Europe

Founded: 1965

27. University of Bath

For Illustration and Concept Art

#31 in the United Kingdom

#98 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 18,857
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1966

28. Royal Holloway, University of London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#32 in the United Kingdom

#103 in Europe

Founded: 1849

29. University of Brighton

For Illustration and Concept Art

#33 in the United Kingdom

#107 in Europe

Founded: 1992

30. University of Westminster

For Illustration and Concept Art

#34 in the United Kingdom

#112 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

31. University of Leicester

For Illustration and Concept Art

#35 in the United Kingdom

#113 in Europe

Enrollment: 24,409
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1957

32. University of East Anglia

For Illustration and Concept Art

#36 in the United Kingdom

#118 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

33. Nottingham Trent University

For Illustration and Concept Art

#37 in the United Kingdom

#121 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

34. University of Sheffield

For Illustration and Concept Art

#38 in the United Kingdom

#126 in Europe

Founded: 1905

35. University of London

For Illustration and Concept Art

#39 in the United Kingdom

#128 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

Closest to England states to learn Illustration and Concept Art

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	6	48
Scotland	8	5